Bhavish Aggarwal plans Ola brand IP shift, raising investor concerns

Bhavish Aggarwal, Ola Electric Founder

Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal is looking to transfer the intellectual property (IP) rights to the Ola brand from ANI Technologies to a holding company controlled by his family office as part of the ongoing restructuring,  sources have told Moneycontrol.

"Our group structure is being proactively realigned to unlock greater value and operational agility as the broader markets and industries evolve. This rejig will be undertaken thoughtfully and communicated at the right time," Ola's spokesperson told Moneycontrol.

The move has sparked concerns among ANI investors, who worry that they could be cut out of future value linked to the brand. Currently, ANI Technologies licences the Ola brand to Ola Electric, earning royalties in return. Transferring the brand IP out of ANI could potentially deprive ANI shareholders of these future earnings.

The Economic Times reported the developments first.

The issue is sensitive because ANI’s investors do not hold any stake in Ola Electric, Aggarwal’s electric mobility venture, or in Krutrim, his artificial intelligence (AI) startup.

It is not yet clear how the move would be structured or whether it would require board or investor approval. If successful, the transfer could give Aggarwal more flexibility to use the brand across his ventures while consolidating control under his family office.

In December, Aggarwal pledged 1.1 percent of the company's equity share capital, valued at nearly Rs 452 crore, to support and expand his AI venture, Krutrim, by facilitating funds through debentures.

The move comes as ANI Technologies, the parent company of Ola Cabs, has initiated preliminary discussions with investment banks, as it evaluates the launch of an initial public offer (IPO) of the ride-hailing business.

Founded in 2010, Ola Cabs found immediate backing from the likes of SoftBank and Tiger Global.